The Yreka Miners cross country team is determined to make some noise at the 2012 CIF State Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Last year, the Miners earned the Division 4 boys state title for the first time in school history.

Despite losing a number of key seniors from last year, the boys squad has had a strong year in 2012. This includes taking first in Division 4 and second overall at the Northern Section Cross Country Championships at West Valley High in Cottonwood.

Also, all four divisions for Yreka High, boys and girls varsity and boys and girls junior varsity took the top spot at the Northern Athletic League Finals. Besides the boys team, the girls squad also earned a berth to state by placing second in Division 4 in the section championship.

In state cross country rankings published by PrepCalTrack.com, the Miner boys were ranked No. 2 overall in Division 4.

"Yreka is clearly running its best of the season at just the right time and will aim to successfully defend its state title of a year ago," the story said.

Head coach Pam Borg said that practices have gone "really well" this week for both the boys and girls squads. The team has been running strong and Borg believes they will be prepared come Saturday.

"They're ready to go," she said.

Borg said that the boys squad has a good chance of earning a top three finish this year, which means they would take the podium again this year.

Borg believes that if the top five racers can perform at a high level, especially in the No. 5 slot and run to their abilities, she thinks that Saturday will be a good day. Borg said while her team has been running fairly fast this year it will be a challenge come Saturday with a number of top schools competing that are looking even stronger than they were last year.

This is the first year junior Cody Griffith will be competing at state. Previously he was an alternate.

"I'm excited and ready to race," Griffith said. As an alternative, he has already ran the course, which he believes will help him on Saturday.

"I feel like I'll be well prepared because I know the course," he said.

Last year in state the girls finished second to last in Division 4. Borg believes while young, this year's group should be able to improve on that and have a solid day of running.

She said that the girls have done a good job of steadily improving this season and is excited to see what they can do on Saturday.

Junior Rachel Wiley competed in state last season and is excited to be returning.

Page 2 of 2 - "I really like the course," she said. And, she excitedly said, the forecast for Saturday is around 60 degrees, which are solid running conditions.

On Sunday, members of the Miners cross country squad are competing in Folsom in the Sacramento area at the USATF Pacific Association Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships. Borg said that this is the first year members of the Yreka team have competed in this event.